A/N: I'm back with one of my wonderful stories (insert here emoticon rolling its eyes)… So at least I'm over the depression that got hold of me a couple of days ago and written something a bit merrier… hope you like it, and please, please, please review and tell me what you think of it! ;)
Disclaimer: If anyone thought I own the characters in this story or that I claim ownership over them I am very sorry to disappoint you!
The first summer of the rest of their lives
Chapter I: Graduation Ball
The Great Hall looked magnificent, during their seven years at Hogwarts none of the now finishing students had seen it like that. Perhaps it was because the famous Harry Potter, national hero, was graduating or just because it was their graduation party and they saw the hall with different eyes. The truth was that the walls covered with silver never-blasting bubbles, the thousands of candles that floated in mid air, the small round glass tables with its silver chairs, and the banner with Hogwart's coat of arms that hang the length of the wall behind the staff table made a beautiful, unforgettable scene.
As the front doors opened and the students came in, formed in a line exactly as they had done seven years ago to face their sorting ceremony, all the guests started clapping and beamed at the in coming teenagers, many of the mothers with tears of pride wetting their eyes. Professor McGonagall came in holding the same piece of parchment from which she had read their names calling them to try on the Sorting Hat; as each of the students was called to receive their diplomas, the hall erupted with applauses and by the time Blaise Zabini step forward, everyone's hands were num from clapping, but nobody really cared, their little children were finishing school.
When all the students had sat at the table their families were occupying, Dumbledore stood up and the Hall went immediately quiet.
"Good night everyone! Welcome to Class' 2008 Graduation Ball. You'll be expecting a speech from me, but these kids had heard me talking too many times and there are only two things I can think to tell them without repeating myself: The first one is that although they are today leaving this school that had been their home for seven years, they are welcome to come back to it whenever they wish to, these doors are forever open. And the second thing is: GOOD LUCK! With whichever path you have chosen to follow."
The hall burst wit applause once again and when it died out Dumbledore raised his goblet and said.
"Before we begin with the feast, I shall propose a toast: to the graduates" Everyone repeated the headmaster's words and drunk to the beaming students.
Food magically appeared at all the tables and the noise level increased as the families turn to eat and talk among themselves. At the largest table in the middle of the Hall sat the entire Weasley family, the Grangers, Harry, Ron and Hermione.
"I can't believe this day has finally come" Said Harry.
"I know, it's weird to think that we are not coming back next September… I'm going to miss it here" Replied Hermione, looking melancholically around.
"Yeah, me too…Though you two shouldn't be complaining, you are going to start new schools after the holidays, I do not understand how you wish to continue studying once we are finally free from it" Said Ron.
"You in turn choose the only carrier for which you don't even need to have gone to school, haven't you Ron?" Said Mrs. Weasley sternly.
"Hey, it's not my fault I'm brilliant at Quidditch" Protested Ron.
"I think you won't be complaining now if you see loads or Tornados badges" Said Harry jokingly.
"Oh no! I may be keeping for the Tornados, but my heart belongs to the Cannons" Answered Ron ceremoniously, everybody snorted.
"So, Hermione, you are going to be a healer?" Asked Bill, serving himself to more pudding.
"Hopefully, well my parents always wanted me to be a doctor, I suppose this is the next best thing… and I rather like it too" She said grinning "I have to wait till the NEWTs results come first though, to see if I get accepted at Medischool"
"As if you had any chance to fail any exam… you have never had and believe me, you are not starting now" Said Harry confidently "Direct your worries to me, will you? I need to pass potions to get to Auror training college".
"Do you know if somebody else is going to Medischool Hermione?" Asked Ginny.
"Susan Bones and Stephen Palmer for sure, nobody from Gryffindor though".
"Stephen Palmer? The tall one with brown hair and deep blue eyes from Ravenclaw?" Giggled Ginny, Hermione nodded and Ron cough, although Harry was sure he heard a "Git" among the cough.
When everybody had eaten and drunk to bursting point, Dumbledore stood up again and the whole Hall followed his league. He flicked his wand and the tables formed a circle around the Great Hall, creating a large dance floor. Another flick and a slow tune started from nowhere. The parents standing in the hall started to dance, and soon some of the students were revolving in the dance floor two.
Back at the table, Harry was looking at Ginny and Charlie who were dancing close by, clearly working up the courage to ask her to dance, Bill was chatting to the sister of one of the graduates who had been at Hogwarts with him and Ron and Hermione sat in silence, looking awkward.
"Emm, would you like to da-dance?" Ron prompted out, looking at Hermione's feet.
"Sure" She said blushing and not quite meeting his gaze.
Ron placed his right hand gingerly on Hermione's back and took hers into his left one, holding her about two feet from him. She giggled and came a bit closer to him, but still keeping a respectable distance. This movement made Ron turn scarlet and look away.
"I should have warned you before you accepted, that I'm a terrible dancer" He mumbled shyly
"If I could handle Victor, I can manage to dance with anyone" Said Hermione laughing. Perhaps it was Hermione criticizing Krum, but Ron seamed cheered up all of the sudden.
"Emm, 'Mione, I've been meaning to ask you… well, it's just that… my parents rented a house at the beach for the holidays and, as it is the last summer we have before having to be responsible and acting like adults, I was wondering if you would like to come and stay with us"
"Sure, I'll have to check with my parents, but I don't think there is going to be any problem" She answered happily, but inside she wondered why it had cost Ron so much to ask her this, after all she had invited her to stay at The Burrow many times before, and this was no different, or was it?
The song ended and Ginny went back to the table to get a drink, Charlie had taken his mother to dance and the only one left at the table was Harry. He smiled at her and she grinned, the goblet still at her lips, making Harry blush. Ginny had turned into a beautiful young woman, her thick red hair cascaded down her back and a few locks over her faces, framing her cat-shaped green eyes, bottom-like nose and perfect smile. Harry had always liked Ginny as a friend, she was very much like Ron, brave and loyal but had that girly way of understanding things that her brother could never had achieved. A couple of years ago, without him noticing, Harry's feeling toward Ginny had started to change, and by now he knew he was in love with his best friend sister. He hadn't told anyone how he felt, although he thought Hermione knew about it somehow, and he had no idea how Ron was going to react if he found out.
"So, enjoying yourself?" Asked Ginny sarcastically "Come on! You should be dancing, this is your prom after all" She urged him, stretching her hand towards him. He took it and allowed her to lead him to the dance floor, where a much rapid song was being played and they started to dace following it.
It was tradition that around ten o'clock the parents left the party so the students could enjoy it "as they saw fit" So after congratulating Harry, Ron and Hermione once more, the Grangers, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, Bill, Charlie and Percy went off with the rest of the adults. Of course, the teachers remained, so nothing wild could occur but the atmosphere relax somewhat all the same.
Now everybody at the Great Hall was dancing and it was really hot inside it, so Ron and Hermione decided to go outside to get some fresh air and where quickly joined by Harry and Ginny, both out of breath from dancing. They sat near the lake, in one of the many benches that ha been conjured there, enjoying the warm summer breeze on their faces.
"So 'Mione, you coming this summer?" Asked Ginny
"Yeah, my parents said it was ok… they assured me I would need a long break to relax before starting Medischool"
"Great, then all of us will be there! Even my older brothers are coming"
"Cool" interjected Harry "Then we can play quidditch four against four… we can persuade either Percy or 'Mione"
"Don't count with me… I won't ride a broomstick ever again"
"Oh, come on!" Said Ron absent-mindly placing his hand over hers "I'll teach you, It'll be fun to have you playing with me" A second later he realized what he had said and done and blushed crimson. Hermione was oblivious to this but Harry and Ginny looked at each other and grinned, both knew perfectly well how Ron felt for Hermione, in fact the only one who didn't know was Hermione
'And if Ron goes on like this, she will never find out' Ginny thought and made a mental note to help his brother overcome this particular issue over the summer.
They spent the rest of the night outside, chatting merely, none of the able to work up the courage to ask the other again to dance. And soon enough it was time to go to bed. The four kids went to Gryffindor common room, three of them for the very last night they would spend there, and yet, although they felt melancholic about leaving the place that, as Dumbledore had put it, had been their home for so long, something in the air that night, back outside, told them that this one was going to be a very interesting summer.